Tour says Lyle remarks wholly inappropriate

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - European Tour chief executive George O'Grady has criticised Sandy Lyle's derogatory remarks aimed at 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

"The tour fully understands Sandy Lyle's disappointment at not being elected captain but deeply regrets his comments which are considered wholly inappropriate and ill-timed," O'Grady said in a statement at the British Open on Wednesday.

Twice major winner Lyle suggested this week that Montgomerie had "cheated" in a tournament four years ago.

He made the claims in Tuesday's Daily Mirror newspaper, referring to an incident at the 2005 Indonesian Open when television replays indicated his fellow Scot had incorrectly replaced his ball after an overnight weather delay.

After seeing video footage of the episode, Montgomerie agreed he had made an innocent mistake and decided to give his $40,000 (24,300 pounds) prize money to the Tsunami Appeal.

"The European Tour wishes to state the tournament committee debated the Jakarta situation extensively and made a full statement at that time," O'Grady added on Wednesday.

'RIGHT MAN'

"The same tournament committee, at their meeting at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year, elected Colin Montgomerie as the 2010 Ryder Cup captain and persuaded him to take the job.